Flexible tubing joint



Oct. 12, 1948. F. M. ALLEN ETAL FLEXIBLE TUBING JOINT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 22, 1944 RANK 4% 41.45, /?0BP7' SNYDER,

I N VE NTORS.

Akron/5 FLEXIBLE TUBING JOINT Filed Sept. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 3 r f fikA/wr M. .441 EN,

Poss/e75. 5/VYOEP,

1 N VENTORS.

Arrozvzy.

Patented Oct 2,451,259 FLEXIBLE TUBING JOINT Frank'M. ,Allen,,A2usa, and Robert E. Snyden, Pasadena, Calif., assignors to'lhe All-Flex Corporation, Los angelea'calit, a corporation o i' California Application September 22, 1944, Serial umsss'azs 1 v This invention relates to swivel pipe joints or 11- clai s. (Cl. ass-97.3)

- .a standard couplings, and .has for an object the provision of a an improved arrangement'of the packingwhich is employed to prevent leakage of fluid through the interstice between the relatively movable sections of a swivel joint for pipe or tubing.

I A more detailed object is to provide a swivel joint of the character indicated wherein the packing employed for the purpose of preventing leakage through the interstice between the relatively movable sections of the loint is accessible without the necessity of-disconnecting and separating the load-carrying sections from each other, thus avoiding the necessity, inherentin more conventionally constructed swing joints, of disturbing the bearing whereby the sections are is inspected, repaired, or replaced.v

A further object of our present invention is to revolubly interconnected, each time the packing provide an improved form of' packer for use in a swing joint of the character indicated and comprising a, set of packing ringsassembled in predetermined cooperative relation'withln a retaining shell in the form of a unitary cartridge or packa'ged packer adapted for rapid and facile railroad type quick-disconnect coupling.

Flgure'3' is an enlarged, exploded view or one of the flexible pipe joints by means ofwhich' 'rflexibility is imparted to the air line connector of Figure 1', portions of the Figure "being broken disclose away and shown in'section, the better to the interior construction. I

Figure 4 isa view similar to Figure 3, but

lustrating a slightly modified form of c oiis i'.ruc-

tion and showing the packaged packer.

Figure 5 is-amore highly enlarged, detail view.

in longitudinal. section taken on a radial plane of unitary or packaged packing member installed;

replacement in the swing --joint whenever the necessity arises. r

Another object of the invention is to provide a flange coupling between the two parts of the female section whereby the packer recess may be rapidly and easily opened to inspect and/or replace the packaged packer.

The invention possesses other objects and able features, some of which, with those enumerated. will be set forth-in the following description of the preferred embodiment of ourinven valu-' use have been abandoned in favor-of a flexible hose having a quick-locking. coupling incorporated therein;- and the use of sucha flexible tion illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming a part of thespecification. Itfisto be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the showing made by said drawing and description but that we may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scopeof our invention as defined by the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 isa view in side elevation of a length of tubing for'fluid under pressure, to which ex-,

treme flexibility has; been imparted by the incorporation therein of four of the flexible tubing joints incorporating the principles of the present invention.

through one of the flexible pipe joints of the present invention and showing a preferred type in operative relation therein.

Figure 6 is a detail view similar to Figure 5, but taken through the packing member only and i11 dicating the manner of assembly thereof.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure .6 showing"- a completely assembled unitary or packaged packing cartridge of slightly modified form.

, So severe are the operating conditions under which the flexible tubing commonly employed to interconnectthe air, steam, and water linesof adjacent railroad-cars of an assembled train that attempts to design a flexible pipe joint for such coupling has become practically" universal for railroad use in spite of the disadvantages inher-;

ent inany hose iorfluid under pressure and exposed to all kinds of weather for prolongedpe riods. Among the disadvantages ofpacked swivel joints forpipe or tubing that inthe past have caused their disqualification for railroad service is the fact that in order to gain access 'tothe packing for the purpose of inspection, re-

pair or replacement, the known designs of couplings' required disassembly of the joint, including disturbing the bearing whereby the relatively Figure 2 is a viewin side elevation of a pair of railroad cars coupled togetherfland showing the respective air lines of ,the two cars interconnected by two lengths of flexible tubing such as that illustrated in Figure 1, joined together with movable sections of the joint are revolubly interconnected. Consequently, in order to repack a" joint of this character in the past, the'services" of a skilled mechanic, and the removal of a earfrom operating service, would be required for so long a. period that the railroads have considered it preferable toemploy the well-known coupling hoses rather than substitute the mechanically better pipes coupled by flexible'joints characterized by the difllcult'servicing problemtowhich reference ,has been made.

-The flexible joint for pipe or tubing tu uie,

with this difficulty in view; andF'igures 1 and 2 illustrate a-couplingtube composed of rigid conduit elements interconnected by several of our improved jointsin such'a manner as to impart at least as reat a degree of" flexibility to the coupling tube as is afforded by a coupling tube composed of rubber hose. It should be understood,

,however. that thejointbf our inventionis here bein'gillustratdand described as a, part of a a rigid with the conduit 21. I 1

flexible air line coupling only in an (exemplary,

, and not in arlimiting sense, inasmuch as the ioint is applicable with equal convenience and efllciency to steam lines and water lines, and, in

fact, to any number' of other uses and associations without departure from the scope of the present invention. Y

The coupling referred to is in nently connected to-the air lines |4 and I5,

respectively, of adjacent railroad cars It and i1, respectively, which cars are interconnected in the usual manner by a conventional draw bar 26 and coupling mechanism indicated at It. Each of the sections i2 and I3-of; the airline connector is provided with one half ,of a "quick-disconnect couplingl l9, preferably of conventional design adapted to interconnect the sections 12 and i3 with a substantially fluid-tight engagement and f with their respective bores in communication and to disconnect the sections merely by rotating them with respect to each other through substantially 90". This is usually accomplished in practice merely by lifting the joined ends of the coupling sections l2 and I3 from their Figure 2 position .until each end has been rotated through substantially i 1.' It comprises preferably four of our improved a swing joints or flexible pipe couplings indicated respectively at A, 'B, C, and D; Each of these swing joints A, B, C and D comprisesa male section 2| fitted,telescopically within a female section 22 with respect of which it is freely revo1uthe joint B. Here again, however, the construction is described only in an illustrated sense, inasmuch as this type of interconnection between 65 the adjacent joints A and B is merely for economy of space in the completedassemblyand has no bearing on the mannerinwhich either of. the

interconnected joints, A, B, operates. In a similar manner, the male section 2| of the joint B 0 I the purposes of thelpresent'invention are better and thesfemale section 22 of the joint D are integrally united. In each case these integrally united male and female sections of adjacent joints are disposed with their respective axes offset 90 with respect to each other, with the result that 65 whereas the axis aboutwhich the movable, female portion 22 of the Joint 'A rotates is vertical,

the axis about which the movable portion of the joint B rotates is horizontal. Consequently, the

of the joint B is normally held by gravity in position hanging verticallydownwards from the'joint B as indicated in bothl figures land 2.: Thejoint Cfis similarly provided with a 90 bend 26, with r 1 dicated in its entirety in Figure 2 at I and comprises a pair of [sections 12 and I3, respectively, semieperma m respectively,

' element 2|. ble, and in the installation illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the female element 22 of the joint A is integrally connected to the male element 2| of portion rotates is "horizontal. "Conseduently, the

joint D and the conduit 21' by means of- ,which the outer end of the joint!) is cpnnected t'o'the" Figure l were it not for the presence of a linkage,

28 inc"luding ,springmember 29 which interconnects ahorizontal bracket, 3| extending rigidly from thenipple 24 and another bracket 32 As faras interior construction and manner of operation are concerned, all of 'the :l-oints, A, B, 0,, and D are identicaland, therefore, here again it will suffice for the purpose ofthe presentdis closure todescribe but one of them, forexample .the joint A shown in ,lfigure 3, the male section 2i of which is providedupon its outer endwith a threaded -coupling 36 and referably a noncircular wrench-receiving portion 31 which serves in connecting the malecoupling element 2| of the joint A to a suitable fitting 38- rigid with the air line I5 of the a'ssociatedear H. The other end 39 ofthe male section 2| is telescopically receivedwithin;thefemale element 22 to which it is connectedfor relative rotary movement'by a suitable bearing, preferably in the form of a double row of antii'riction balls 40 suitably eng'aged within aligned ball races 4| and 42 in. the male section and in the female section 22,

Whereas that portion of the interstice' 46, between the joint-sections and 22 where the antifriction bearings 40 are located is relatively narrow, the interstice 46 is widened a indicated.

v at 41 by providing a relieved portion in one or both of the joint sections. A trated, it is entirely within the extended inner end 53 of the .male joint section 2| that the 'interstice 46 isrelieved to provide this widened In the form illusportion. By widening the interstice 46 in any one of the manners indicated, a packing recess ment 22, whereas the other end wall 52 and the inner circumferential surface of which are defined by exterior surfaces on the male coupling Suitable packing means indicated in its entirety at 56 is installed within the packing recess 48, and this p2. :king means may take any of several different forms without departing from the essenceof the present invention. For example, the pack in means 55 in one of its more simple forms may comprise merely a pair of cooperative packing rings 51, 58, designed in conformity withthe disclosure in co-pending application, Serial No; 430,066, filed February 9, 1942,!1OW'P9I-8Ill2 No. 2,384,360, dated September 4, 1945. However,

served by employinga packing wherein the several constituent'elements are assembled into a unitary cartridge construction such as those pared to moreconventio'nal swing joint constructions wherein it-is necessary to disturb the bearthe result that the axis about which'its mqvable 76 ing by means of which the joint sections are screws 60 female Joint section 22 comprisestwoseparable parts, to .wit, a body portiontl and a cap porrevolubly interconnected; Toward-this tion "(rigidly but'releasably interconnected as" by means ofa plurality of cap screws 63 extending through clearance holes 64 in the cap 92 and end, the

threaded within aligned holes 60 inthe body portion preferably on diametrically opposite sides with respect to the bore of the 'joint.';

'I'hus it may beseen that we'have provided a packed swing joint wherein. complete access to the packing may be gained by the exceedingly simple and brief expedientof removing two cap and then merely moving the cap portion 82 away from the body portion SI of the female coupling element 22. As will readily be understood, this operation is performed without disturbing the antifriction bearings 40 many /manner whatsoever, or in fact in any other portion of the joint. Consequently, the packing 56 can be removed and thoroughly inspected and re,

paired, if need be, or replaced within a minimum I I of time, and with aminimum of inconvenience.

' ience, and still with utmost Furthermore, the operation is of such a simple 1 nature that the services of a skilled mechanic are notrequired for its performance;

It will be observed that in the modificationsof swing joint illustrated in Figure 3, the plane along which the cap 62 is removable from the body 6|,

intersects the packing recess 48 substantially in planar alignment with the end wall or shoulder 02, on the male joint section 2|. It also will 'be observed that bothpacking rings 51 and are provided with inner and outerv fluid-sealing lips.

1I and 12, respectively, which establish fluid-scab -ing engagement with the inner circumferential wall 53 and the outer circumferential wall 5i, respectiyely.,-0f the packing chamber 48. Consequently, the packing rings 51 and 58 operate to prevent leakage of fluid along either circumferential wall of the packing chamber and toward the right as viewed upon Figure 3 with the result that leakage is prevented both through the interstice along which relative motion between the two joint sections 2| and 22 occurs and through whatevereinterstic mayremain between the body portion BI and the cap portion 62 of the female joint section 22.

Therefore, even if a 'trated in Figure 7, the

asviewed upon Figure positely' disposed, i. e., presents a pressure responsive face facing .to the left as viewed upon Figure "4 so that that ring prevents leakage of fluid 'toward the right as viewed in that figure, i The packing illustrated. in Figure 7 is provided-- with two packing rings 00, 01;. facing toward the right and two packing rings 00 and 00 facing to the left, whereas modification 6 is' equipped with a packing ringll arranged to prevent escape of fluid from within the joint and "to the left along theinner circumferential wall 03 of the packing recess 10.

, Each of the modifications or packing members.

illustrated in Figures spectively,

5 and 6 andin'Figure'I, reincorporate important detail of the present inventionj inasmuch as each is 'preassembled into a unitary, cartridge construction which can beplaced in operative position within the packing recess '19 with the greatest convensurety that the constituent packing 'rings will they will operate with utmost efllciency.

Referring first to the packer'assemblyillusoppositely disposed rings 86, 01, 88, and89-are which they should occupy with respect to each other when finally assembled in the jolntsand retained in those positions until such assembl'yis J eflected through the expedient of a rigid shell orcasing 96. This casing 96 portion 91 comprises a body substantially of cylindrical form and havin an inwardly extending flange 90 at one end and an outwardly extending flange 99 at the other end. A closure plate or cap IOI preferably 'prefectlyfluid-tight seal between the body BI and cap 62 does for any reason exist after the cap screws 63- are tightened, the joint is that no leakage can there'occur.

However, in the. modification illustrated in Figure 4 additional means are provided for preventing leakage between the body portion 16 and the cap portion 11 of the female joint section 18. i

vided, long enough to extend beyond one or more packing rings within the recess, andit is intended that that packing ring or those packing rings, as the ease might be, beyond which. the extension 82 projects are arranged with their pressure-responsive faces facing towardxthe end of -'the extension 92. When so arranged that pack-,v

ing ring or rings, as-the case might be, lying beso designed a in the form of a flat fixed to the end flange 99 after the packing rings annulus is permanently afhave been assembled within the body Any suitable means for attachment of to the flange 99 maybe employed such as spot welding, soldering, or the like. The packing rings 88 and89 both present sealing lips I02 which engage the inner circumferential wall of the pack ing chamber 19 and thereby prevent escape of fluid along that wall and to the right as viewed portion 91.

.upon Figure 7. In- Figures 5 and 6, however, al-

though there are two packing .rings I03 and I04 to the right of that portion I06 of the interstice between joint sections, which extends from the packing recess 19 tothe bore I01 of the joint, only the pfl kingring I03 pre'sentsa sealing lip I00 which engages the inner circumferential wall of the-chamber 19. The other packing ring I04 presents a sealing lip I 09 which engagesthe radially disposed end wall or shoulder III of the packing tween the end of the projection 82and the remainder of the ,cap 11 will prevent leakage of fluid from withinth'e' joint and toward th left,

chamber 19 and inasmuch as this lip I09 establishes sliding as well as sealing engagement with the radial wall II I, it will provide surety of the leakproof. nature of the joint, even though there may be an extent of mechanical imperfection in the anti-friction bearing I I2 of the joint whichwould prevent an appreciable degree oflradial Y I movement of one joint section with respect to the ,other. Any axial movement of one joint section .with'respect to'the other is compensated for as .far as the leakproof nature of the joint is concerned by the fact that thesealing lip I09 of the other ring I03 engages the circumferential wall so that sliding therebetween can occur without disturbing the leakproo'f nature of theengagement. r

I v 4 along the circum; ferential wall 02 of the packing recess. At least one of the other rings within the recess 10 is opof Figures 5 and be so disposed with, respect to each other within the recess 19 that v mounted in the position the cap Ill- In the case of the modification illustrated Figures 'and 6, alsotthepackingiurlfi or cartridg is of a preassembled nature since its packing rings 9|, I03 and IN are permanently disposed being of'increased width to present an annular packing recess, and-a pre-assembled packing unit I said interstice with the bores of saidjoint sections I therein in their desired operating position in the within said'recess and comprising an annular factory and retained why the shell HI and the; 5' shell and a plurality of packing rings retained in closure plate or cap I ll which arepreferably'sim-' 1 predetermined fixed position with respect to each ilar to the first described shell 91 and cap. Ill, other by said shell, said female joint section comwith the exception that the shell {IS/is provided prising a body port on and a cap portion rigidly with a relatively narrow endwall. I It on its #i'nner.

end to prevent'the sealing lip it! of the packing l0 plane intersecting saidpacking recess whereby g saidpacker unit can ,be removed from said recess I04 from making engagement with the end wall. Illofthepackingrec'ess. I

Figure 6. illustrates a' preferred manner of'as' sembly of the packing rings of either modification i secured thereto b t separable therefrom in a by removal of said cap portion from saidbody porthan and without disturbing said bearing means. 4', A flexible joint for interconnecting a pair of within theirretaining shell. The innermost packtubes, comprising a tubular. female. joint section ing, say the p'aeking rings Hi3 and 104, is mounted 7 steps of assembly of the rings within their casing are facilitated to the greatest possible degree.

We claim:

1. A flexible joint for interconnecting a of tubes, comprising a tubular female joint section tions being of'increased width topresent an annuafli'xed to one of said tubes and a tubular male joint section revolubly fitted thereinto and ailixed to the other of said tubes, bearingmeans interconnecting said joint sections for relative rotary motion and restraining them against relative h other y d t' w 0188M r ss ing T disposed on opposites'ides of the plane f inter- 1 axialmotion, said sections having an interstice therebetween and at least one of said joint sections having a relieved portion defining. an '\annular recess of predetermined fixed size from to the other of said'tubes, bearing means interconnectingsaid joint sections for relative rotary III as by vulcanizing, with the resultthat the 20 motion'flndrestraining-them ainst relative ax ial motion, said sections aving an interstice said interstice with the bores of said jointseclar packing recess, and a pre-assembled packing unit within said recess and comprising anannular shell and a plurality of packing rings retained in predetermined fixed position with respect to section of said recess and thexportiono said in terstice between said recess and the bore of saidjoint and both ofsaid oppositely disposed rings which said interstice leads to the exterior of said having their pr Sure-responsiveface facing tojoint, packing within said recess making fluidsealing engagement with both of said joint sections, one of said joint sections comprising two portions separable to give access to said packing l ward said plane, said female-joint section comprising a body portion and a cap portion rigidly 1 secured; thereto but separable therefrom in a plane intersecting said packing-recess. whereby recess, and means releasably interconnecting said '40 said acker unit can beremoved from said recess separable portions comprising'cooperating flanges on said separable portions-and quickly releasable means rigidly interconnecting said flanges. J

2. A flexible joint for interconnecting a pair of tubes, comprising a tubular female joint section" tubes, comprising a tubular female joint section 4 aflixed to one of said tubes and a tubular male I joint section revolubly fitted thereinto and af'-.

ailixed'to one' of said tubes and'a tubular male-- joint section revolubly fitted thereinto and amazed to the other of said tubes, antifriction means interconnecting said joint sections for relative roaxial motion, saidsections having an interstice therebetween and at least one of said joint sections having arelieved portion-defining an annular recess of predetermined fixed size from which interstice betweensaid-rec'ess and the exterior of said joint, packing within said recess making fluid-sealing engagement with both of said joint by removal of said cap portion from said body por- 5 I tion and without disturbing said bearing means.

5. A flexible joint for interconnecting a pair or .tary motion and restraining them against. relative tive' i' motion; said sections having an interstice therebetween and a portion of said interstice between said bearing means and the intersection of said interstice with the ladies of said joint sections being of increased width to present' said interstice leads to the exterior of said joint, to an anular packing recess, and a pre-assembled said antifriction means extending across said v packing unit within said recess and comprising an tained i'n predetermined fixed position with respect to each other by said shellfa fluid-sealing sections, one ofsaid joint sections comprising two lip on one of said packing rings making sliding engagement with a circumferential wall-of said recess to establish a fluid-tight seal therewith during both rotary and limited; axial movement of one of said joint sections with respect to the other,

0 and a fluid-sealing lip on another of said packing rings making sliding engagement with a radial wall ofsaid recess to establish a fluid-tight seal 1 therewith during both vrotary and limited radiai movement of oneof said joint sections with re,

to the other of said tubes, bearing means inter spect to the other, saidfemale joint section comconnecting said joint sections for relative rotary motion and restraining them against relativeaxial motion, said sections having an interstice therebetween and a portion of said interstice beprising a body portion and a cap portion rigidly @secured thereto but separable therefrom in a plane intersecting'said packing recess whereby said packer unit can be removed from said recess tween said bearing means and the intersection of 16 by removal of said cap portion from said body] H v f 9,451,860

portion and without disturbing said bearing a 6. In a devicefor releasabiyzinterconnecting the train pipes on two adjacent railroad cars,

the combination 01' a .quick-disc'onnect coupling and ,flexlble means connecting each of said,

trainpipes tosaid coupling comprisingla' pair of rigid tubes and a flexible joint. for interconnectins said tubes comprising a tubular female joint section aflixed to one of said tubes and a"'tubu-,. 'lar male joint section .revolubly'fltted .threinto.

and afllxd to the other of said tubes, bearingmeans interconnecting said jointsections'for relative rotary motion and restraining them against relative axial motion, said sections havingan interstice therebetween and at-least one of said, intersection of said interstice with. the bores of joint sections having a. relieved portion defining -an annular recess of. predetermined fixed size from which said interstice leads to the exterior of said joint, packing within 'saidrecess making fluid-sealing engagement with both of said joint sections,- one of said joint sections comprising two portions separable to give access to said packing recess, means releasably interconnecting said separable portions comprising cooperating flanges on said separable portions, and quickly releasable means rigidily interconnecting said flanges.

7. In a flexible train pipe connector, the combination of one section of a two part "quick-disconnect; coupling and a flexible means for connecting said coupling section to a train pipe comprising a pair of rigid tubes and a'flexible interconnecting said tubes, comprising a tubular female joint section aflixed to one of said tubes as and a tubular male joint section revolubly fltted thereinto and aflixed to the other of said tubes, antifriction means interconnecting said joint sections for relative rotary motion 'and' restraining them againstrelative axial motion, said sections having an interstice therebetween said recess. 5nd releasable tion having a'recessi therein for the reception of said flange and unit.

1 A flexible jZint for interconnecting-a pair -of tubes compri ing a tubular female joint section aflixed to one of said tubes and a tubular ,interconnecting saidjointsections for relative rotary motionand restraining them against relative axial. motion, said sections having an in- 'terstice therebetween and a portion of said interstice petween, said bearing means and the said joint sections being 'ofyincreased width to present an annular packing recess, a pro-assembled packing unit within said recess and comclosure plate of said packing:

- male'joint 'sec'tiomrevolubly fitted thereinto and .aflixed to the other of'said tubes,bearing means packing-firings retained in predetermined fixed position-with respect to'each other by said shell and aclosure plate rigidly secured to said flange,

said femalejoint section comprising a body portion, a. cap portion cooperating with said body portion to close said recess, and releasable means f forsecuring' said cap portion to said body portion "in recess-closingpositiomsaid ca joint and at least one of said joint sectionshaving,

a relieved portion defining an annular recess-of predetermined fixed size, from which said inter stice leads'to the :exterior of 'said joint, said antifriction means'extending across said interstice between said recess andthe exterior ofsaid joint, packing within said recess making fluidsealing engagement with both of said joint sections, one of said joint sections comprising two portions separable to give access to saidpacking recess, meansreleasably interconnecting said separable portions comprising cooperating flanges on-said separable portions, and quickly releasable means rigidly interconnecting said flanges,

8 A flexible joint for interconnecting a pair of tubes, comprising a tubular female joint section afllxed to one Of said tubes and a tubular male joint section revolubly fitted thereinto and affixed to the other of saidtubes, bearing means interconnecting said joint sections for relative rotary motion and restraining-them against relative axial motion, said sections having an interstice therebetween and a portion of said interstice between said bearing means and the intersection of said interstice with the bores of saidjoint sections being of increased width to presentjan annular packing recess, and a preassembled packing unit within said recess andcomprising a cylindrical shell having an end flange extending outward therefrom and a pinprising a cylindrical shell having an end flange I n present an annular having a recess therein for the recept on of said flange and closure plate orsalid packing unit, and j a cylindrical boss on said body portion coaxially disposed with-respect to the bore thereof, said cap portion having a recess therein within which said flange, closure plate, and. boss are seated.

, 10 ,A flexible joint for interconnecting a pair of tubeacomprising a tubular female joint secmale joint section revolu-bly fitted thereinto and' afllxed to the other of said tubesfbearing means interconnecting said joint sections for relative rotary motion and restraining them against relative'axial motion, said sections having an interstice therebetween and a portion 01' said interstice between said bearing means and the intersection of said interstice .with the home of said joint sections being of increased width to packing recess, a pre-assem- .bled packing unit within said recess and comextending outward therefrom and a plurality of packing. rings' retained ,in predetermined fixed position with respect to each other'by said shell and a closure plate rigidly secured to said flange,

said femalejoint section comprising a; body portion, a cap portion cooperating with said body rality of packing rings retained in predetermined fixed position with respect to each other by said shell and a closure plate rigidly secured to said flange, said female joint section comprising a body portion, a cap portion cooperating with said portionio close said recess, andreleasable means for securing said cap portion to said body portion in recess-closing position, said cap portion having a recess therein for the reception of said flange and closure plate of said-packing unit,

and a cylindrical boss on said body portion coaxially disposed with respect to the bore thereof, said cap portion having a recess therein within which said flange. closure plate, and boss are tion aflixed to one of said tubes and a tubular portion seated, and'said boss being substantially fitted to said cap portions recess to maintain axial alignment of said cap and body portions.

11. A flexible joint for tubing comprising a female joint section, a male joint section revolublyfitted thereinto and comprising a body portion, a cap portion, and means for releasably aiflxing said cap portion to saidbody portion,

bearing means "interconnecting said body porthe inner wall of a packing recess, the outer wall of said packing recess being defined by said female Joint section, and packing means disposed within said recess comprising a pair of annular packers facing oppositely with respect to each other and making sealing engagement, respectively, with said cylindrical extensions.

FRANK M. ALLEN. ROBERT E. SNYDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 12 v UNITED STAI'ES PA'IfENTB Name Date Regester Dec. 31, 1901 Stein Nov. 28, 1933 Hubbard e July 28, 1936 Roth Sept. 10, 1920 King Mar. 2, 1913 Phillips -1 Mar. 5,1946

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date a Great Britain Dec. 13, 1928 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1941 

